Talks between Goa CM and BBSM on MoI inconclusive

Panaji, Jun 22 (PTI) The talks between Goa Chief Minister Laxmikant Parsekar and Bharatiya Bhasha Suraksha Manch leaders today remained inconclusive over the organisations demand for declaring the states mother tongue Konkani as medium of instruction (MOI) in elementary education.

The issue of MoI in the state has been going on for many years, with different organisations favouring different languages. After the BBSM protested over the issue across the state last week, the chief minister had called for a meeting with its leaders.

"Parsekar explained to us what steps the state government has taken to promote education in mother tongue. He placed facts and figures in front of us," renowned writer Pundalik Naik, who is also a senior leader of BBSM, told PTI after emerging from the meeting.

He said BBSM stuck to its demand that grants to English medium schools should be withdrawn and there can be "no compromise" on it.

Naik said the chief minister has assured the delegation of meeting again to discuss the issue and added that BBSM will continue its agitation till their demand is fulfilled.

"We are not mellowing or cancelling our agitation. The aggressive agitation will continue. BBSM has already set a deadline of October 2, 2016 for the state government to agree to their demand failing which we will be working on a political alternative to BJP for the forthcoming Goa Assembly polls," Naik said.

The BBSM, which has state RSS chief Subhash Velingkar as its coordinator, has been holding demonstrations and public meetings across the state.

The organisation has accused the BJP of back-stabbing by stepping back from its promise to declare the states mother tongue as MoI.

Defence Minister and former Goa Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar had on Monday refused to intervene in MOI matter, claiming that the state government is not able to withdraw grants to English medium schools owing to administrative difficulties. PTI RPS GK KIS

This is unedited, unformatted feed from the Press Trust of India wire.

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